Saviour Of The First Order

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(Pearls of Wisdom - is the title chosen to the collection of writings,

speeches and messages of His Holiness Swami Kesavaiahji dealing with his

Guru, Sri Sai Baba of Shridi, speanning a period of four decades of the

Swamijis Spiritual ministry of Sainath, we will try to publish a portion of

the book every day)

 

 

Saviour Of The First Order

WHENEVER virtue and truth subside and vice, tyranny and untruth prevail,

some great souls appear in this world, true to the words of Lord Sri Krishna

in the 'Gita' to protect the virtuous, destroy the evil-doers and uphold

righteousness. Our country, Bharath, is well known for such divine persons

who are verily Avatara Purushas, Godmen on earth. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi is

the most recent in our memory in the hierarchy of such great saints.

One remarkable feature about Sri Sai Baba, which has made a powerful

spiritual appeal to all who came under His spell, is

that His life on the physical plane is shrouded in mystery and that very

little is known about his early life. By the time Baba

arrived at Shirdi, He had developed a unique personality, great

spirituality, wonderful healing powers and prophetic vision. His

residence was first under the shade of a neem tree wherefrom He moved

to a small, old, dilapidated Masjid, which He named

" Dwaraka Mayi", where He continued till He attained

Mahasamadhi.

Till about 1908, His devotees were confined to Shirdi, and thereafter His

greatness came to be known in Bombay and other places. One of the best

devotees, Nanasaheb Chandorkar, came under His influence in 1892 and after

him came or rather was brought Das Ganu Maharaj. Both these

devotees spread the fame of Baba far and wide. Enormous crowds rushed to

Shirdi for getting darshan of Baba. To obtain His Grace, presents of

money, food and clothes made to Baba by several devotees were passed on

by the All-merciful Sai to the poor and the sick and those in need of help.

His charity was bountiful.

Sai Baba was a repository of goodness, kindness and love to one and all. He

was unostentatious and accessible to everyone. He Himself begged His food

daily and was clad in a shabby long robe. He was a " Trikala Gnani ",

possessing knowledge of the past, the present and the future. The devotees

were charged with spiritual fervour in His holy presence and were cleansed

of all their sins past and present by His mere glance. Sri Sai Baba had no

love for the perishable things of the world and was always engrossed in

self-realisation. His heart was pure, crystal clear and His speech always

poured nectar. The rich and the poor were the same to Him and He cared

neither for praise nor for abuse.

Baba never practised the ' Ashta Siddhis, ' though He had reached a higher

stage. He used to light the lamps in the Masjid with the oil supplied gratis

by the banias of the village. At one time these banias refused to supply oil

to Baba. Quite unperturbed, Baba kept the dry wicks in the lamps and filled

them with consecrated water instead of oil, When the lamps were lighted,

they began to burn and kept burning the whole night. This put down the pride

of the bania, who repented and apologised to Baba for. their thoughtless

act.

Baba performed many other chamatkars. On one occasion there was a terrible

storm at Shirdi : the winds began to blow fiercely, the clouds roared and

rain began to descend in torrents. When people in fear prayed to Baba, he

came out and standing at the edge of the Masjid addressed the storm in a

thunderous voice, " Stop, stop your fury and be calm. " In a few minutes,

the winds ceased to blow, the rains subsided and calmness prevailed.

 

 

(Adopted from the Book Pearls of Wisdom by His Holiness Swami Kesavaiahji)